Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2004, published 93rd ILC session (2005)

Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160) - Colombia (Ratification: 1990)

The Committee notes the Government’s report covering the period 1 March 2000 to 30 June 2004, which replies in partial to its previous comments (2003). It also notes the documents attached thereto.

Article 7. As the latest employment and unemployment data by occupation refer to 2000 and are classified according to ISCO-1968, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate whether, and if so, when it plans to follow ISCO-1988, the latest edition of the ILO classification of occupations.

Article 8. Referring to its previous comments, the Committee notes the communication of the CD-ROM on the methodology used for the 1993 Census entitled "Survey method for the XVIth National Census of the Population and the Vth Housing Survey".

Article 10 . Since the titles of the tables show that the distribution relates to "employed population" (población ocupada), i.e. the total of employees and self-employed workers, and to "income" (ingresos), it is not clear whether statistics on the distribution of employees by earnings levels are compiled from the continuous household survey. The Committee therefore recalls its previous comments, which read as follows:

Noting the statistics on the distribution of employees by earnings level as a function of other characteristics, as published in the Encuesta Nacional de las Hogares, the Committee once again asks the Government to indicate the measures adopted or envisaged for the collection, compilation and publication of statistics on the structure and distribution of earnings (basic pay, premium pay for overtime, remuneration for time not worked and bonuses and gratuities) and of hours of work (hours actually worked or hours paid for), in accordance with the guidance provided in Paragraph 5(2)(b) of Recommendation No. 170.

Article 11. The Committee notes that statistics of average labour costs are still confined to statistics on the level of "compensation of employees" in manufacturing. It therefore draws the Government’s attention to the relevant guidance contained in Recommendation No. 170, Paragraph 6, and hopes that information will be provided to the ILO with respect to its previous comments, which read as follows:

The Committee once again asks the Government to indicate the measures envisaged to extend the concept of compensation of employees to the full measurement of labour costs, to compile and publish statistics on the level and structure of labour costs and to extend the coverage of these statistics to other important branches of economic activity.

Article 13. The Committee notes with interest the additional information provided in reply to its request on the history of household income and expenditure surveys (Encuesta Nacional de Ingresos y Gastos), and the detailed description of the concepts, definitions, methodology and classifications used for the 1994-95 survey. The Committee also notes that the results of the 1994-95 survey are contained in 38 tables, of which five are available on the DANE web site.

The Committee would also like to remind the Government of its obligation to provide information regularly to the ILO on any new survey and its results.

Article 14. The Committee notes that no information is provided in the Government’s report on the application of this Article of the Convention. Noting the statistics on occupational injuries and diseases transmitted on the CD-ROM attached to the report, it asks the Government to provide information in reply to its previous comment, which read as follows.

The Committee notes the information concerning the compilation of statistics by the General Directorate of Occupational Health and Employment Risks of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, and concerning the statistics contained in the "1999 Statistical Bulletin" published by the Social Insurance Institute, Subdirectorate of Health Services. Also noting the development by the Ministry of a statistical system for the collection, compilation and analysis of data on employment, labour and social security, the Committee asks the Government to indicate whether, as envisaged, it has been possible to correct the deficiencies in the current statistics through the implementation of the above system.

The Committee also asks the Government to communicate regularly to the ILO the statistics concerned (Article 5), including for the period 1996-98, and to indicate any publication containing a description of the statistical methodology (Article 6).

Article 15. The Committee notes that the Government has not provided any information in reply to its previous comment. Noting the statistics on strikes attached to the Government’s report, it  hopes that the Government will not fail to provide the ILO with information requested in its previous comment, which read as follows:

Noting that the Ministry of Labour and Social Security does not have information on hours not worked or on the duration of work stoppages, but observing that it collects data on the number of events recorded as strikes or lockouts, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would, firstly, keep the ILO informed of any project relating to the collection of information on hours not worked and on hours of work and, secondly, communicate regularly statistics on strikes.

The Government is also asked to communicate regularly to the ILO the statistics concerned (Article 5), including for the period 1996-2002.

Article 16. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate whether indices from the Encuesta Mensual Manufacturera are still compiled monthly, and, if so, provide information on how they can be obtained.